curioussoulphotos

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Photograph the essence not the incidental.

KaBloom

See things not as they are, but as you see them. Robert Henri

We waited and waited for Spring to come to Boston and overnight, KaBloom! Bursts of color and light. And just as suddenly, they will all be gone.

Leading a class on photographing blossoms the other day I encouraged students to reveal the spirit of the thing, not just the physical reality. As Robert Henri says, “Low art is just telling things; as, There is the night. High art gives the feeling of the night. …. be interested not in the incident but in the essence of your subject.

I used intention camera motion to capture the feeling of blooming. To create this image I used a technique I call click and zoom. Settings slow shutter speed 1/5 and f/22 and ISO 100. As you click the shutter give your telephoto a quick twist. Keep the camera steady so the only motion is what is caused by the zoom.

Be prepared to fail many times until you get it just right. I like this one because the center is in focus. Why not give it a try if you want to capture the living spirit of blossoms. You may just feel something bloom within you too.

Suzanne

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What is Photo Worthy?

What is Photo Worthy?

Last week while on the train from NY to Boston I was taking some photos out the window. I love to get the window seat in the Quiet Car so I can enjoy the view of the coastal wetlands and marshes. Most of the photos are blurry because of the train motion but I like that since it is how I am seeing the scene.

Out of the corner of my eye a flash of color caught my attention so I turned my camera in that direction and clicked. Yes, true enough it is just a photo of someone with pink nails using their iPhone. And yet, I felt this small moment was as photo worthy as the breath taking scenes flying by outside my window.

This is an example of mindful photography. One of the guiding principles is to be open to seeing beauty everywhere all the time. The unexpected small glances that result in a fresh image are of equal value to the long studied composition choices of an expansive landscape.

Try this: Next time something small catches your eye, don't hesitate, or think, or decide if you should take a photo or the moment will be gone. As soon as you see it, shoot it. It will be perfect enough. And worthy of your photo.

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Mindful Photography Class 3 Tips to Try

Here are three simple things you can do to bring mindfulness into your photography today. But what is mindfulness and how exactly could it improve your photography? Mindfulness is defined by Jon Kabat - Zinn as “Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, with out judgment.”

When you apply this mindful practice to your photography you can create images that translate your experience of beauty into an image that is more deeply satisfying and surprising. It will simply delight you and those you share it with.

It is so easy to do, why not give it a try next time you pick up your camera. The only difficult thing about it is remembering to do it rather than just clicking away. Let me know how it goes.

 Stop before you start. When you arrive in a location with the intention to DO some photography. Don't just start doing. First stop and just BE there. Take one minute to physically stand still and be in this place.

Next center your self by slowing your breath. Just focus on each inhale and exhale making each one a bit slower and deeper. This will result in helping you relax into a deeper state of awareness of your surroundings.

Notice what attracts your attention from this deeper state of awareness. Is it the color? The quality of the light? The textures? Begin to explore this slowly and in a playful, open way staying fully present to what is there.

Simply allow yourself flow into the moment. When you feel a deep connection with your subject and then and only then click. Connection can take form of a sense of wonder, love, appreciation, or sheer joy.  How you connect is up to you. But you feel something. You know something. You discover something new about your world and your self.

More mindful methods can be found in my book Flow-tography available for ipad on the itunes bookstore or in PDF form for pc users on my website. You are invited to take a look and see if this method could help you improve your photography and take your photos from like to LOVE.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/flow-tography-better-photos/id499049037?mt=11&uo=4

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Disappointment

Have you ever felt really excited about your photography while you are in the middle of taking the photos only to feel disappointed when you get home and look at them? Sometimes we have an imagined image in our minds eye. We think we captured something special in the moment, but later it seems boring. It is not unusual to feel this way. I remember having the same feeling when we would shoot with film and send the roll of 36 away to be processed. The pack would come back in the mail and I would shuffle through the deck only to find two or three that were interesting. 

Now  in a day shooting digital I might have 200 photos to look through and find two or three I feel satisfied with. But there is another step you can take if you really want to learn how to take better pictures. After you find 2 or 3 you are happy with, also find 2 or 3 that you are disappointed with. Now try to be specific about what you thought you captured and why this image is not really working. What would you do differently if you could do it over? Would you get closer? Shoot from a different angle? Change your depth of field? Imagining how to make it better will help you next time you are in a similar situation. So look at an image that disappoints you and imagine what it would take to delight you.

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In Boston remembering. #911memorial #boston ##loveboston #flags (at Public Garden)

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Freshly dug up. Old bottles new beauty. Lovely colors textures and shapes. #nofilterneeded #abandoned #bottles #brimfieldma #antiques @rustologyantiques #oldbottle #curioussoulphotoschool #photoclass #texture #colors (at Brimfield Antique Festival)

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Back of the Brimfield Barn Lots of great photo opportunities and good deals around the back of the barn. #brimfieldfleafinder #curioussoulphotoschool #brimfieldma #schoolbusconversion #retro #abandoned @brimfieldbarn #barnsofinstagram (at Brimfield Antique Festival)

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Brimfield antique market day three. Started photo field trip this morning at the Brimfield barn. Photo friendly. Great variety of objects to photograph and to take on home. photoclass #brimfieldma #curioussoulphotoschool #retro #@brimfieldbarn #brimfieldfleafinder (at Brimfield Flea Market)

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Brimfield antique market day three. In New England hotel field. Another photo friendly dealer. @agedobjects #curioussoulphotoschool #brimfieldfleafinder #photoclass #hardware #vintage #metal (at Brimfield Antique Festival)

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Brimfield antique market day three. In Quaker acres. #photoclass #brimfieldma #curioussoulphotoschool #sneakers #converse #retro #blackandwhite @vivantvintage #photoclass #brimfieldfleafinder (at Brimfield Antique Festival)

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Too late. Allready sold. Brimfield beauty. #brimfieldphotos #brimfieldantiques #brimifeldfinder #metal #reprupose #fleamarket #brimfieldma #antiques #photoclass #curioussoulphotoschool #textures (at Brimfield Barn Antiques Show)

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Tiny Treasures Brimfield Barn First day at Brimfield antique market. Already finding small secret treasures hidden in plain sight. A photo treasure trove. Always ask permission to shoot. Brimfield Barn is certified by Curious Soul Photo School as photo friendly so stop by. #brimfieldbarn #brimfieldfleafinder #vintage #antiques #brimfieldma #brimfieldantique #brimfieldphotos #junk (at Brimfield Barn Antiques Show)

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First no parking sign in boston. #signs #type #typography #boston #urban #curioussoulphotoschool #filthyfacades #oldstuff #painted # (at SoWa Art & Design District)

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Checkers headed to photograph something else but saw this instead. #windows #design #reflections #cars #parkinglot #design #boston #urban #curioussoulphotoschool #suzannemerritt #nofilter (at Downtown Boston)

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Lucky Ducks. Never miss the opportunity to go to the county fair. Great photo opportunities. One idea is to pick a color and stick with it. #photographyclass #composition #lighting #curioussoulphotoschool #yellow #fairfun #suzannemerritt #meetuptakebetterpictures #hartfordfair #games (at Harford Fair grounds)

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On location. Just finished this photo shoot with models @blackandbrasscoffee in Honesdale Pa great lighting and textures in the background. Thanks for letting us shoot in your cafe. #photoshoot #photographyclass #café #lighting #composition (at Honesdale, Pennsylvania)

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Hot summer day in Boston #boston #flowers #suzannemerritt #curioussoulphotoschool #bostonma #color #macros #minimal #nature #newengland #vitality #beautyoflife (at Newbury Street Boston MA)